As of last week I thought I had mostly decided my "best of" lists for 2023. But then I read The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon, and I am not as sure of things.
I have had several of Lawhon's books on my shelves for a while now, but after attempting one of them, and then quickly abandoning it, I wasn't so sure Lawhon was for me.
The Frozen River makes me want to go back and read her entire backlist of books. This novel tells the story of Martha Ballard, a midwife who lived in the 1700s. Ballard is not someone I was familiar with, but reading a novel about her piqued my interest and I've found myself wanting to know more.
Set in 1789, Martha finds herself immersed in a mystery when some local men find a young man under the ice of the frozen Kennebec River. However, the cause of death is not drowning as many first suspect, and Martha looks back through the notes of her diary to try and determine what really happened to the young man. There are twists and turns as this story develops and I found myself staying up late wanting to know how this story unfolded.
I've read a variety of reviews, most of which are positive. This was a five star read for me. In addition to the suspense and mystery, I loved Martha and how clever she was. I also appreciated the way her husband supported and loved her - a slow love story that developed over the course of their marriage. This would make a great book club selection, and I'm just waiting for a few of my friends to pick it up so we can talk.
1 comment:
I have a copy of this one and hope to get to it soon. Glad it worked so well for you!!
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